The Young Kieslowski (2014)

Saw this at the Leiden film festival 2014 (LIFF), where it was selected for the American Indie Competition. Well constructed script, ample ingredients, and developments spread evenly over time. But that is not all there is for a movie that should pull you in, and as such make you feel along with the protagonists, or at least with some of them. It had its moving moments, however, but not sufficient to compensate.

The most disturbing element (for me) was Leslie's stubbornness around keeping the child(s), no matter the consequences. She declared everyone not in favor, against her. Only black and white, no discussion about a compromise nor planning ahead to find a decent way to proceed. I would not be able to deal with such a hardliner in real life, and meeting one in a movie, on a safe distance, does not help in understanding their reasoning. On the other hand, this role is played with lots of conviction, at least it worked to impress me. The latter is a form of silver lining, turning this movie into one that is convincingly carried by main character Leslie.

Her father knew her very well, I deduce in hindsight, as he told her upfront that she always picked up the latest hype. He deemed the Pro Life movement a hype that would not last forever. The latter was his rebuttal when Leslie called in her Christian belief and stated to not even think about an abortion. Yet, half a year later, she admitted to have dropped Christianity. In other words, she lightheartedly follows every wind in whatever direction it blows. In any case that is the impression we get from the story, even more worrisome for the future her newborn child will have.

All in all, the annoyance I felt because of Leslie's behavior, is a positive feature of this movie. In hindsight it demonstrates the conviction displayed by the actress. Yet, I've had problems with hardliners all my life, and I fear that people like we saw in this movie, really exist to annoy other people who see gray tones between black and white. Some may consider me wishy-washy while always looking for realistic compromises. Moreover, I know from close-by that some life changing decisions (getting married, having a child, and so on) are not made rationally like a profit/loss account.